As any significant awards ceremony draws close, you'll find an outcry for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.
